Lebanon News and World News Live from Beirut

Future bloc rejects Orthodox, proportionlity laws

Future Movement parliamentary bloc renewed on Tuesday its rejection of the parliamentary electoral law which is based on proportional representation and which was approved by the cabinet and the so called the Orthodox Gathering draft electoral law which was approved by the Maronite Christian parties , saying bothare bad for the country.

Following its weekly meeting the bloc said in a statement : “The Orthodox Gathering law fuels sectarianism in Lebanon and transforms the people into sectarian tribes.”

The so called Orthodox Gathering draft law calls for each sect to elect its own lawmakers.

“The bloc considers coexistence between Muslims and Christians in Lebanon as atop priority … and it therefore completely rejects discussions over any law that contradicts this coexistence and the principles of the civil state,” the statement added.

“The bloc rejects any law that violates the constitution,” it stressed

“The Orthodox Gathering law transforms a lebanese lawmaker from being a representative of all the Lebanese to one who represents his own sect only”. The statement said

“The lawmaker is supposed to reflect the diversity of the electoral district and not its sectarian identity,” stressed the bloc.

“The Future Movement bloc is committed to the Taef Accord as the basis for any electoral law,” it added.

“We are ready to openly discuss any draft law that would satisfy all partners in the nation ” , the statement added

Commenting on the government’s draft electoral law which is based on proportional representation, the bloc said that its adoption would only serve the purposes of Hezbollah due to its illegal possession of arms.

“The adoption of the proportionality electoral law at the current political moment is not a step towards reform, it rather strengthens Hezbollah’s domination and control over the Lebanese state,” the bloc said, adding “once the Lebanese people all begin to respect each other’s rights and once the threat of arms is eliminated we are willing to adopt such a law.”